Jane’s pregnant, Lizzie turned down a most advantageous proposal, Mary keeps disappearing, Kitty thinks only of herself, and Lydia eloped. Whatever will the community think of the Bennett family? And that’s not even counting the large, circus-like tarps over their house while the exterminators fumigate for a spider infestation! All Mrs. Bennett want is to marry her girls off to respectable young men, but no such luck!
Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld is a modern twist on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. If you’ve followed me long, you’ll know this is by far my favorite novel and set of characters in literary history. Sittenfeld delivers the same family dynamics and drama I love about the original, while bringing the storyline and settings into the 21st century. Sittenfeld keeps the female empowerment narrative so beloved in Austen’s works, as well as the trope that first impressions can often be misleading. Written in short chapters covering one scene each, it feels like the transition to screenplay would be easy and fitting for the novel.
I give Eligible 5 out of 5 stars. It was a delight to see my favorite character of Mr. Bennett given the modern treatment of heart disease (who wouldn’t having to deal with Mrs. Bennett) and still able to deliver his standard calm in the face of the storm approach to things. I also appreciated the modern take on the family finances and housing situation, but I don’t think Austen’s Lizzie would have been so brazen as to make the decisions for her parents the same way. I was disappointed Sittenfeld chose to include just about every kind of marriage/dating situation possible – reality TV, unwed mother, interracial dating, and a transgender beau. These last two decisions almost felt as though they took away from the overall story and were a distraction. However, Mrs. Bennett’s reactions to them were 100% genuine to Austen’s version of the matriarch.
While I would normally recommend Austen books to readers of all ages, this retelling would be best directed to more mature audiences over 16. Sittenfeld included several scenes of sexual relationships that may not be appropriate for younger readers. If you live in the Cincinnati area, you will enjoy the inclusion of several famous landmarks in town, as well as Skyline Chili.
Modern retellings of classic literature seem to be all the rage right now. Think of it as fanfiction for authors long-since dead. Even movies have taken to the “remake” market, bringing older, more antiquated scripts to the modern age. When I saw the Booklist Queen Reading Challenge prompt “a Jane Austen retelling” I knew that the list of possibilities was huge, but I also knew exactly what I wanted! I’ve seen this one on my discussion groups quite a bit and have been waiting for the right time to dig in. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book, stopping often to read passages to my husband or to laugh uncontrollably at the quips. I would love to see Elligible on the big screen!
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